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Columbus, N.M., man pleads to transporting undocumented immigrants

— Sun-News report

Posted:
03/20/2014 04:45:16 PM MDT

LAS CRUCES >> A Columbus, N.M., man pleaded guilty in Las Cruces federal court Thursday to conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants into the country, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Samuel Elliott, 30, and his brother Robert Steven Elliott, 28, also of Columbus, were arrested Sept. 11.

Border Patrol agents in Deming went to a trailer in Columbus on Aug. 31 after receiving a tip and discovered a group of people who admitted to being Mexican nationals unlawfully in the United States, the news release stated.

Agents discovered the people were smuggled into the county Aug. 28, and Sam Elliott picked them up and took them to Columbus, according to the news release. The brothers told them to stay in the trailer until they could smuggle them to Phoenix.

Sam Elliott used a Columbus Fire Department emergency vehicle to transport the immigrants through the Border Patrol checkpoint on New Mexico Road 11. He activated the vehicle's emergency sirens to avoid inspection and drove through the checkpoint, according to the news release.

He met up with Robert Elliott shortly afterward, but the pair were disrupted by agents who had followed Sam Elliott.

Robert Elliott pleaded guilty to conspiracy Jan. 22.

The brothers face a maximum 10 years in prison. Both are in federal custody pending their sentencing hearings, which have yet to be scheduled.